Perhaps you’ve done this, or had this done to you. The other day I was doing something upstairs, and I needed one of my children, and he was in the basement. Instead of yelling, I asked one of the other children to go get him. (In theory this saves me time.) She went and delivered the message, and I waited. Shortly thereafter, my daughter returned and said, “I told him, but he’s not moving.” So, I put down what I was doing and yelled. Then he came running.
There is a difference between the voice of a messenger and the voice of the sender . . . even when the message is exactly the same. The sender’s voice has greater authority.
Because Jesus is God in human flesh we must pay much closer attention to what his message is.
Make no mistake, the angels, prophets and other messengers spoke with great authority. Their messages were accompanied by miracles and awesome acts of power: the parting of the Red Sea, healing of the sick, the sun stood still in the sky, and the dead were raised. Yet these do not compare to authority of Jesus, the salvation He has won for us, and the outpouring the Holy Spirit into our lives. Think on these things for a moment: God in human flesh died for you! He rose again so you may live forever! He puts His Spirit in you and lives with you! Sinful people who had been banished from the Lord’s holy presence are now vessels where His Spirit dwells!
Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered and died for us. Jesus’ crucifixion is the D-day of the spiritual war that has raged in this world ever since Adam and Eve gave credence to the question, “Did God really say . . . ?” This is the moment that we look back to with mixed feelings of hope, sorrow, wonder and awe for the sacrifice is so great – the Son of God tastes death for everyone! As it says in Romans 6, in Jesus death we all died, and now we have new life in His resurrection.
This is the ultimate expression of solidarity. Jesus stands shoulder to shoulder with us to face what we must all face. Isaiah called it the great shroud that covers all mankind, the pall that covers each of us. Death will come and each of our earthly lives shall end. However, since Jesus experienced death for us, it cannot hold us. Through His own death, Hebrews says, he has destroyed the devil, breaking our bonds of slavery to him, and in so doing, He has defeated death. Remember, “Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Us. Jesus is on your side. Don’t forget it. Jesus helps in this life, too.
There are two other important items to take note of. One is the idea of the high priest. This theme is going to get dug into more later, but the job of the high priest was to offer the sacrifice that paid for sin. As our high priest, Jesus made atonement for our sins, the ESV says he made propitiation for the sins of the people. When you see atonement or propitiation in your Bible know that what that means that Jesus has provided what was necessary to forgive our sins. In other words, he paid the price. He has won forgiveness. And what was that price? His blood.
Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all our sins. Could there be greater proof that he is “for” you?
Lord Jesus, whether we call it atonement or propitiation or forgiveness, help me to never take for granted the cost of my salvation. Thank you for loving me so much that you’d pay that price. Now, I ask that you would help me to share that salvation with others. Amen.
There is a difference between the voice of a messenger and the voice of the sender . . . even when the message is exactly the same. The sender’s voice has greater authority.
Because Jesus is God in human flesh we must pay much closer attention to what his message is.
Make no mistake, the angels, prophets and other messengers spoke with great authority. Their messages were accompanied by miracles and awesome acts of power: the parting of the Red Sea, healing of the sick, the sun stood still in the sky, and the dead were raised. Yet these do not compare to authority of Jesus, the salvation He has won for us, and the outpouring the Holy Spirit into our lives. Think on these things for a moment: God in human flesh died for you! He rose again so you may live forever! He puts His Spirit in you and lives with you! Sinful people who had been banished from the Lord’s holy presence are now vessels where His Spirit dwells!
Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered and died for us. Jesus’ crucifixion is the D-day of the spiritual war that has raged in this world ever since Adam and Eve gave credence to the question, “Did God really say . . . ?” This is the moment that we look back to with mixed feelings of hope, sorrow, wonder and awe for the sacrifice is so great – the Son of God tastes death for everyone! As it says in Romans 6, in Jesus death we all died, and now we have new life in His resurrection.
This is the ultimate expression of solidarity. Jesus stands shoulder to shoulder with us to face what we must all face. Isaiah called it the great shroud that covers all mankind, the pall that covers each of us. Death will come and each of our earthly lives shall end. However, since Jesus experienced death for us, it cannot hold us. Through His own death, Hebrews says, he has destroyed the devil, breaking our bonds of slavery to him, and in so doing, He has defeated death. Remember, “Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Us. Jesus is on your side. Don’t forget it. Jesus helps in this life, too.
There are two other important items to take note of. One is the idea of the high priest. This theme is going to get dug into more later, but the job of the high priest was to offer the sacrifice that paid for sin. As our high priest, Jesus made atonement for our sins, the ESV says he made propitiation for the sins of the people. When you see atonement or propitiation in your Bible know that what that means that Jesus has provided what was necessary to forgive our sins. In other words, he paid the price. He has won forgiveness. And what was that price? His blood.
Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all our sins. Could there be greater proof that he is “for” you?
Lord Jesus, whether we call it atonement or propitiation or forgiveness, help me to never take for granted the cost of my salvation. Thank you for loving me so much that you’d pay that price. Now, I ask that you would help me to share that salvation with others. Amen.
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